Your cloud transformation strategy: where to start

Are you getting ready for a cloud transformation project? Start planning your first steps with our guide.

Cloud transformation is a big deal in two distinct yet overlapping ways.

First, it's a big deal for your business. It can boost performance, unlock cost savings and encourage hybrid working.

But it's also a big deal to execute. It's not something you can do casually. Before you press the big button marked "migrate", you need to do lots of preliminary work.

The alternative is stark. Poorly planned cloud migrations cost you money. This could be because you plumped for a suboptimal cloud environment. Or it could be because you end up getting a cloud consultant in to fix the mistakes you made.

So, where do you start with a cloud transformation strategy to maximise your chances of success? And where does a cloud consultant fit in?
Well, for our money, there are seven key steps. The first involves lifting the bonnet on your IT infrastructure and taking a look at what's inside.

1. Carry out an assessment

Cloud migration is like moving house. You need to know what's there before you start packing.

In the context of cloud computing, this means assessing your IT infrastructure, applications and data. It means identifying pain points, inefficiencies and room for improvement. And it means evaluating your readiness to migrate.

Without this preliminary process, you're increasing your chances of failure. Not every IT team, however, has the skills to carry this out.

If this sounds like your enterprise, it may be in your interest to outsource the assessment process. This could be a one-off cloud readiness assessment or form part of a multi-step migration programme.

2. Know your goals

So, why are you moving to the cloud? If you don't have a detailed answer to that question, your transformation isn't likely to deliver the goods.

You'd be surprised, for instance, how many companies migrate because, well, everyone else is doing it. The result? A suboptimal cloud solution that costs more than it saves.

In other words, the finer details of a cloud migration depend on the goals you're trying to achieve. You can't make an informed decision about a provider, for instance, without having specific objectives in mind.

And like all other business objectives, these need to be measurable, with KPIs in place to check if you're on the right track.

You could be trying to cut costs, break up data silos, improve sluggish performance, increase scalability or foster innovation. Whatever your motives, your cloud transformation strategy should reflect your overall business goals.

3. Choose the right cloud model for you

Cloud solutions aren't hair scrunchies. One size doesn't fit all.

Every enterprise needs the cloud model that will meet its specific requirements – not some vague notion of "the right cloud model". What, you need to ask yourself, is the right cloud model for you?

It could be public, private or hybrid. You could move everything to the cloud. You could leave some workloads on-premises. You could split different applications between different providers.

It all depends on your workloads and their security, compliance and data residency requirements. Oh, and like every other stage of this journey, it depends on your budget.

4. Pick the right partner

OK, so you're ready to migrate. Who's going to manage the process itself?

If you've got the skills in-house, there's no reason why you shouldn't do this yourself. But if you don't, you might want to work with a consultant.

The main reason for this is that you get to leverage expertise without committing to full-time recruitment. Rather than investing money in retraining and upskilling, you get the skills you need as and when you need them.

There's not one "right" way to do it. But it's worth bearing in mind that many companies start out with a DIY approach and end up reaching out to a consultant.

5. Bring your team with you


If you're committed to a cloud transformation strategy, you want things to change. But is your team ready for it?

Anyone who's managed a team will know that people have wildly different approaches to change. Some welcome it. Some accept it with a shrug. And some actively dislike it.

The point is that you need to bring people with you. The alternative is to invest in an expensive upheaval that no one wants to use.

This applies to both staff and stakeholders. Make sure everyone knows what will happen, when, and how it will affect them. Keep them updated and in the loop.

You could also think about making your company more cloud-friendly. Ways to do this include nominating a member of staff as a cloud mentor and holding regular webinars on cloud computing.

People want to feel that their needs and requirements are, at best, being met and, at the very least, acknowledged. A cloud transformation strategy is no different from any other internal change.

6. Migrate

Whether your internal team handles your migration or an external consultancy firm, the process needs to be handled as safely and non-disruptively as possible.

This involves working around existing deadlines and schedules. It also involves rigorous and regular testing before the migration can take place.

7. Optimise your new cloud environment

Cloud transformation doesn't end with migration, any more than moving house ends with unloading the van.

Once you've migrated, you need to stay on top of your cloud environment to ensure it's optimised and secure. You can do this yourself or get a managed service provider to handle the finer details for you.

Either way, this crucial final stage puts you in a good position to meet the ever-changing needs of the business world.


Are you looking for a consultant or cloud management solution to aid your transformation strategy? At Ascend Cloud Solutions, we've handled more than 400 migrations and counting. Get in touch today for a free, no-obligation consultation.